James A. Drongowski (Anthony)

December 26, 1956 – December 23, 2020

James Drongowski, after decades of battling the combined effects of long-term renal (FSGS) and heart disease (HCM), passed from this life on December 23rd, 2020 at his residence in Charleston, S.C. He was 63 years old. Born in Jackson, Michigan on December 26, 1956, he was preceded in death by his father, Stanley J. Drongowski, mother, Antoinette J. Drongowski and his brother, Michael S. Drongowski. His is survived by his two sisters, Deborah Drongowski (Tecumseh, Mi.), Diane Bounds (Martin) (Charlotte, N.C.) and their two children, Alexander (New York City) and Charles (Charlotte, N.C.). He also leaves behind numerous cousins and friends and his loving companion, Nozomi Garcia (Charleston, S.C.).

After graduating from Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Mi., Jimmy (as he was known) made his way to Boston. There he put his precocious building skills, evident in the spectacular forts he built as a child, to work in a career in construction. Eventually he struck out on his own establishing Deeco Builders, where he specialized in remodeling townhouses and condominiums in the Boston area. In 1989 he moved to Charleston, S.C., to help with the reconstruction of that city after the devastation of Hurricane Hugo. While in Charleston, he made a mid-life change deciding to pursue a career in medicine that eventually led to a degree as a nurse practitioner from The College of Charleston. He worked at several Charleston area hospitals in that capacity until ill health forced him into retirement. Jimmy was active in politics throughout his life, volunteering for several election campaigns at local, state, and national levels. He was a key organizer in the campaign to ban the use of plastic bags in the South Carolina low country, protecting the vulnerable shore and marine life native to the area. He was also a passionate student of healing, meditation and prayer which brought him into contact with a close-knit community of similarly committed others who will greatly miss him. Never one to show up empty handed at holiday dinners, Jimmy spent his last hours at home in Charleston preparing his much-praised and much-anticipated Russian tea cakes that he shared every Christmas with friends and family.

He will be laid to rest at St. John's Cemetery in his hometown of Jackson, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to The National Kidney Foundation at kidneyfund.org A virtual memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 3rd, 2021. Information for joining is below.

Celebrating the Life of Jim Anthony Time: Jan 3, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Link here: Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting Meeting ID: 940 8031 9461 Passcode: 932136